Our Mission
To shine Christ's love to preschoolers and their families by creating a positive, Christ-centered environment that nurtures the whole child.
We accomplish this mission with active learning through Bible stories, play, music, educational games, stories, art projects, field trips, and interactions with other children. An environment with age appropriate activities helps to nurture the spiritual, physical, intellectual, social and emotional development of 3, 4, and 5 year olds.
We have been in operation since 1983 at Cumberland Valley Brethren in Christ Church (now The Meeting House – Dillsburg Campus) in Dillsburg, PA. We also are joining Daybreak Church in Mechanicsburg, PA in September 2024!
About Our Preschool
Mountainside consists of well-trained, qualified staff who care deeply about your child and will welcome them in a positive, Christ-centered and nurturing environment.
Our school is unique in that we use a "rotation model." This means that each of our classes are staffed with a teacher and an aide who lead the children around our school, rotating rooms every twenty minutes. This allows us to collaborate and coordinate our teaching and resources for better effectiveness. This also allows the children a chance to practice cleaning up, lining up and transitioning several times a day; and the movement helps keep their focus and attention.
Children will rotate through Bible, art, circle, snack, playground, and alphabet time during our school day.
Meet Our Staff
Pam French | Director
Pam is the Director for Mountainside Preschool. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education as well as a minor in music and Bible. She previously taught fourth grade, piano lessons and directed preschool while on staff at her church.
Keri Walton | Teacher/Assistant Director
Keri will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday and a Tuesday-Thursday Preschool class. Keri has a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education - Mathematics from Bloomsburg University. She taught for four years in the Northern York Country School District before staying home with her three children.
Diane Sites | Teacher/Aide
Diane will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday preschool class this year and will be an aide for a Tuesday-Thursday Preschool class. Diane has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. This will be Diane's seventh year on staff at Mountainside. She worked in childcare and education for five years prior to coming to Mountainside.
Sue Stine | Teacher
Sue teaches a Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class as well as a Tuesday-Thursday Pre-Kindergarten class. She has over 35 years of teaching experience at her church, including preschoolers and youth. This will be Sue's tenth year on staff at Mountainside. Prior to Mountainside, Sue spent 7 years working as an Elementary School Learning Support Aide.
Jenn Tanney | Teacher
Jenn teaches one of the Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten classes as well as a Tuesday-Thursday Pre-Kindergarten class. She received her Bachelor of Arts degrees in Elementary and Special Education as well as a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Bloomsburg University. She previously taught in other preschools and childcare centers.
Rachael Fry | Teacher
Rachael Fry will join Mountainside as a preschool teacher this year on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rachael earned a double major in Bible and Elementary Education at Lancaster Bible College, and she received a Master’s degree in Reading and principal certification at Shippensburg University. She taught for ten years in public education, primarily in second grade. She and her husband, Chris, have one son who will be starting kindergarten this year.
Beth Lockhart | Teacher
Beth teaches our Tuesday-Thursday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class. Beth attended Millersville University and has a double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. She also has a Master’s degree in Reading Education. Beth has taught for 33 years in public schools mostly in Kindergarten.
Michelle Stauffer | Teacher
Michelle began teaching at Mountainside Preschool in 2006. She teaches one of our Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten classes. Michelle has an Associate’s degree in Education as well as an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Brooke Fickes | Teacher
Brooke will be teaching a Monday-Wednesday-Friday Pre-Kindergarten class and a Tuesday-Thursday preschool class this year. Brooke has a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been a lead teacher in a preschool classroom for over 20 years. She also enjoys serving in her church in the children's ministry department.
Ruth Anne Engle | Teacher
Ruth Anne will be a Tuesday-Thursday preschool teacher this year. Ruth Anne has Bachelor's degrees in Kinesiology and in Education. She previously taught fourth grade and has been an Aide here at Mountainside for 10 years.
Holly Anderson | Aide
Marisa Blas | Aide
Amanda Brown | Aide
Nina Hoover | Aide
Kara Johnsen | Aide
Ruth Knapp | Aide
Amy Musser | Aide
Jessica Nixon | Aide
Jasmine Peightal | Aide
Cindi Syvertson | Aide
Susan Hatch | 2-Day Assistant